The Golden Rule of the Internet

[newman]

"Treat people on-line the same way you would if you were seated across a table from them".

Sadly, no one follows this Golden Rule, either.

What is it about the Internet that seems to attract and encourage people who think it's Ok to be mean, rude, and irrelevant? Is it the anonymity? I have days where unplugging from all forms of mass internet communication (LJ, mailing lists) seems like a great idea. Yes, this is one of them. I'm pretty sure when The End of Days comes — whatever form it takes — that The Internet will be responsible.

(I'm amused that this won't be considered "Adult" content, when it's mostly a rumination on why many biologically mature people choose not to act like adults).

Shut off your computer. Go outside. Have a cup of coffee with someone you can actually see. Smile at someone you don't know. Be good to each other.

Comments

[new-man.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It really was posted very early in the morning (about 5:30 a.m.).

I'm just sort of sad, in that parental sort of "not mad, just disappointed" sort of way. The phrase I hear too often is "I weep for humanity"; it's become so cliché as to have lost impact and I'm not actually weeping... but I kind of feel sorry for humanity.

We've lost something precious in the last few years. I'm not sure what exactly, so I'm not sure how to point us at getting it back. It has always been easier to create than destroy, being angry is easier than being than being happy... Everyone knows what <Rant> means. Why isn't there an equivalent shorthand for posting something long, loud, and happy?

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

I've seen "Rants and Raves" in some print media; one could adopt [Rave] for online fora, as well.

[laurion]

I saw the thread this is in response to. There were definitely comments airing narrow and unnecessary opinions in a forum not for that purpose.

Apparently Golden Rules can tarnish.

[new-man.livejournal.com]

"Rave"... could be. Lakshmi suggested "Gush", and I was thinking the $.25 "Rhapsody". ;-)

[new-man.livejournal.com]

There's a longer post roiling inside me, but I may not be articualte enough to write it. There's something that touches the Lord of the Flies chord... the politeness of individuals becomes the savagery of faceless crowds.

It's hard to condemn and critique negative behavior without appearing hypocritical.

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

Sure. Waxing rhapsodic is better than waxing Jennings :-)

[jducoeur]

We've lost something precious in the last few years.

They've been angry years, but I don't think the Internet is responsible for that. Rather, my guess is that it's ambient political trauma spilling over. America has, in general, gradually become a weirder and scarier place since 9/11 -- not so much because of that event as because of our collective reaction to it, in all kinds of different ways. All the moreso up in MA, where I think there's a sense that the world *had* been moving in a vaguely good direction, and then faltered. (It would be interesting to see how the rest of the country perceives the changes in the zeitgeist; I'd bet it's not consistent.)

Not the first time that's happened, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'm sure we'll grow out of it, but sadly these things seem to move in waves that can take decades to wash over us. In the meantime, there's not much for it but to try and set a good example...

[jducoeur]

Is it the anonymity?

No, I suspect it's the lack of facial expression. In a face to face conversation, you can see the pain and anger you are inflicting pretty quickly, and are more likely to get the clue and back off before you do anything completely foolish. In an Internet posting, by contrast, you've usually committed the offense completely (and gotten your ego invested in it) before you realize you've been a jerk.

("You" in the abstract sense, of course, not you specifically...)